OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—The Baltimore Ravens make no apologies for their 6-0
record against losing teams, nor do they care about their perceived inability to
hang with the NFL elite.

As they prepare to enter a challenging December, the Ravens are concerned
only about prolonging a march toward the playoffs that has featured lopsided
wins over hapless foes and overwhelming defeats against the league’s upper
class.

Despite playing for a rookie coach, employing a first-year quarterback and
playing with much the same roster that went 5-11 last season, the Ravens (8-4)
are only one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North and currently in position
to receive a wild-card berth.

But Baltimore has beaten only two teams with winning records, Miami (7-5)
and Philadelphia (6-5-1). And while the Ravens played well in close losses to
the Steelers and once-beaten Tennessee, they lost 31-3 to Indianapolis and 30-10
to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Next up for Baltimore: A prime-time showdown Sunday night against the
Washington Redskins (7-5), followed by matchups against Pittsburgh (9-3) and
Dallas (8-4).

None of those teams, or even Jacksonville in the finale, should be confused
with the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, whom the Ravens swept aside Sunday, 34-3. But
coach John Harbaugh insisted Monday that Baltimore has nothing to prove.

“Our guys have earned the right to be playing meaningful football games in
December,” he said. “That’s all we care about.”

The combined record of the Ravens’ victims was 25-44-2 before Monday night’s
game between Jacksonville and Houston. But Baltimore has won six of seven, and
has garnered enough attention to warrant a season debut on the NBC Sunday night
telecast.

“We don’t care about playing in prime time, we don’t care if the rest of
the country knows about us or not. We’re not interested in any of that. We’re
not trying to impress anybody,” Harbaugh said. “We’re trying to win a football
game Sunday. Our guys understand how to win a tough football game when it
counts. They’ve proven that.”

These Ravens have absolutely no regard for public perception.

“Honestly, I don’t care about anybody outside the state of Maryland. I
really don’t. We have nothing to prove to nobody,” wide receiver Derrick Mason
said. “The teams that we play understand how we play and we don’t have anything
to prove to nobody else. If you want to put us on prime time, so be it. We can
play at 12 o’clock, 1 o’clock. We’re not looking to be in the spotlight. We’re
looking to go out there and work hard and play physical football and let our
play speak for itself.”

The numbers the Ravens have put up in their last two games against
Philadelphia and Cincinnati would indicate they’re primed for a strong stretch
run. Baltimore has scored 70 points over the last two weeks, and the defense has
scored two touchdowns and not permitted one.

“We are right where we want to be. We put ourselves in the hunt,” said
rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who has 11 touchdown passes compared to two
interceptions over the last seven games. “We have four games left and we need
to continue to do what we’ve been doing. That starts with Washington.”

Flacco threw for 280 yards against the Bengals and directed an offense that
operated without running back Willis McGahee, who was essentially given the day
off while Le’Ron McClain and Ray Rice shared the workload. McGahee has been
banged up, but Harbaugh promised the six-year veteran would be a factor down the
stretch.

“We plan on Willis being a huge part of what we’re doing in December,”
Harbaugh said, adding that McGahee was rested Sunday because “it’s all about
what gives us the best chance to win games as we go. Willis understands this.”